Chapter 10: Daisy Joins the Team
Early the next morning, Brock got out of bed. Seeing Ash and Misty still fast asleep, he didn't disturb them. He got dressed, grabbed his Poké Balls, and quietly left the room.
Brock went down to the main hall of the Pokémon Center and saw Nurse Joy already there, taking care of Pokémon. Seeing Brock come out from his room, Nurse Joy greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Brock. There's a package here for you. Please come and sign for it." Nurse Joy took a package out from under the counter and handed it over.
Brock walked over and took the package. "Morning, and thank you, Nurse Joy. Nurse Joy, could I possibly borrow the battlefield here?" Every Pokémon Center has a battlefield.
"Certainly. The battlefield is outdoors," Nurse Joy said, pointing in the direction of the battlefield. Hearing this, Brock headed straight towards where Nurse Joy had indicated.
Brock reached the battlefield and saw several trainers already there training their Pokémon. Some were having Pokémon battles, while others were practicing their Pokémon's moves. Brock carried his package over to an empty section of the battlefield.
"Come out! Zubat! Meowth!" Brock took out their Poké Balls and threw them. Two red beams shot out, and Meowth (Brock's Meowth walked upright) and Zubat appeared on the field.
"Brock, I don't like staying inside the Poké Ball! Can you please not make me go back in? Please, Brock?" Meowth pleaded pitifully, tugging at Brock's pant leg.
Brock looked down at Meowth and said, "Okay, you can stay out. But you have to listen to me completely."
Hearing Brock's agreement, Meowth cheered, "Meowth! I never have to go back into that stupid Poké Ball again!"
"Meowth, I haven't really trained you much these past few days. In a bit, you and Zubat can have an autonomous battle! This will help increase your battle experience," Brock instructed Meowth. Meowth and Zubat took positions on opposite sides of the battlefield.
Brock saw Meowth and Zubat begin their battle. He then looked at the package in his hands and thought, _The express delivery in this world is really fast! It was sent last night, and it arrived early this morning._ Brock opened the package; inside was a set of documents.Express delivery in this world only takes a few hours, very convenient. However, you usually have to pick it up at the Pokémon Center.
Brock found a bench battlefields have benches for people to sit and rest and sat down, then opened the documents and started reading. After a few minutes, Meowth and Zubat walked over to Brock's side. "Brock, I lost to Zubat," Meowth reported glumly.
Hearing Meowth, Brock looked up from the documents at Meowth and Zubat. "Meowth, are either of you injured?"
"Brock, neither of us is injured. I got hit by Zubat's Supersonic attack, got confused, and lost just like that," Meowth explained.
"Meowth, you walk upright, so you're not very fast. Run laps around the battlefield then. Try to build up your speed. You can stop running when I finish reading these documents. Zubat, you fly with your wings. It's not easy to train you properly right now, so just practice your moves off to the side, and keep an eye on Meowth so he doesn't slack off." After giving instructions, Brock turned his attention back to the documents. Meowth and Zubat, hearing Brock, went off to train as directed.
On the battlefield, a Meowth was running laps around the perimeter, while a Zubat practiced its moves nearby. Brock remained on the bench, reading the documents. After half an hour, Brock finally finished reading. He now knew about the major families (clans) and organization in this world.
These families/organization were:
● The Pokémon League (itself considered a major entity)
● The Oak family
● The Shirona family (Translator's Note: Typically associated with Cynthia in Sinnoh)
● The Sasaki family (Translator's Note: Sometimes used as Giovanni's surname in fan contexts)
● The Zvoki family (Translator's Note: The Tsuwabuki family, Steven Stone's lineage from Hoenn)
● The Team rocket
● The Jenny family
● The Joy family
● The Dragon Tamer family (Translator's Note: Associated with Lance/Clair from Johto/Kanto)
● The Ghost family
● The Water family
● The Fire family
● And finally, the Rock family.
These families resided in various regions of this world. The Champions and Elite Four members of the Pokémon League were all selected from these families. Some Gyms were also managed by members of these families. The remaining Gyms were managed by people from lesser families affiliated with the major Pokémon League families.
After reading the documents, Brock finally learned that his own family was the Rock family! And the Rock family was famous for its technology in reviving Pokémon Fossils.
_My family is actually this amazing?! Able to revive Pokémon Fossils back into Pokémon! In that case, shouldn't I have some ancient Pokémon?! Why didn't my old man give me any? I'll definitely ask him next time!_ Brock thought while looking at the documents.
Brock snapped out of his thoughts and saw Meowth running exhaustedly on the battlefield, while Zubat practiced moves nearby. Brock walked over. "Meowth, Zubat, that's enough training for today!"
Hearing Brock, Meowth immediately stopped and sat down on the ground. "Exhausted... Meow..."
Brock recalled Zubat into its Poké Ball, then walked back into the Pokémon Center with Meowth.
"Nurse Joy, could you please treat my Pokémon?" Brock asked, handing Meowth and Zubat's Poké Ball to Nurse Joy. Nurse Joy took the Poké Ball and Meowth and began examining them.
Ash and Misty came out from their room. Ash saw Brock talking with Nurse Joy, stretched lazily, and said, "Morning, Brock! What are you doing here?"
Misty rubbed her eyes and asked Brock, "Brock, what were you doing up so early?"
"Ash, Misty. I needed to get up early to train my Pokémon. Right now, I'm having Nurse Joy treat them! Besides, Ash, Misty, you two hurry up, brush your teeth, wash your faces, and eat breakfast so we can get going," Brock said.
Hearing Brock, Ash and Misty replied "Oh," and went off to brush their teeth and wash their faces. Brock also went to freshen up.
After Brock, Ash, and Misty finished breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Brock collected his treated Pokémon, and they left. Just as they were leaving Cerulean City, they ran into Misty's sister, Daisy.
"Miss Daisy, who are you waiting for?" Brock asked.
Daisy spotted Misty hiding behind Brock. She walked over to Misty and said, "Misty, your big sister apologizes to you. I'm sorry. Yesterday, I shouldn't have gotten angry at you over such a small thing, let alone thought about hitting you."
Hearing Daisy's apology, Misty said, "Sister Daisy, I was wrong too. I shouldn't have shouted so loudly, and I shouldn't have talked back to you." And just like that, the issue between Daisy and Misty was resolved.
Brock watched Daisy and Misty reconcile and thought, _Well, this is awkward. I asked them a question, and they didn't even answer me. It's like I don't exist! Besides, their misunderstanding ended just like that? I finally understand why we men don't understand women; you never know what they're thinking from one day to the next._
Brock said to Misty and Daisy, "Misty, we should get going now. Miss Daisy, you can head back."
"Just trying to chase me away like that? Well, I won't go! I've decided I'm going to travel with you guys!" Daisy declared.
"What?! Sister, are you really going to travel with us?" Misty asked in astonishment.
"Yes! The other day, after hearing what Mr. Brock said, I reflected on it. Mr. Brock was right; we neglected our Pokémon training and became the weakest Gym. So, Misty, your big sister wants to get stronger with you! And protect the Gym together!" Daisy explained.
Hearing Daisy, Misty agreed to let her join their journey. Ash also agreed without much thought. But Brock, hearing Daisy's words, inwardly regretted his earlier lecture, _I knew I shouldn't have acted so pretentious! Now I have to cook for one more person! Well, I dug my own grave; I'll have to endure it, even if it brings tears to my eyes._
And just like that, Brock, Ash, Misty, and Daisy began their journey together.